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“So there is gossip going around and lots and lots of disapproval.

“But a sexual relationship, no. At some stage she is his ‘mother’ and at others his best friend.”

But she added: “The physical side was important. He had the same physical profile as John Brown — they were both 6ft tall.

“She liked a strong man next to her, caring for her.”

Abdul also enthralled Victoria with stories about life in India, of which she had been declared Empress in 1877 but which she never visited.

Shrabani said: “She couldn’t go to India because the journey took six weeks, but India came to her in the form of Abdul.

“He told her about the festivals, the Taj Mahal and she loved these stories. He was not formal, he was 24 and he treated her like a human being.”

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When Brown, pictured,. died in 1883, Victoria — who had lost beloved husband Albert in 1861 — was bereft and fell into depression until 24-year-old Abdul arrived in her life in 1887

In return, she acted like one, and the pair often discussed very personal matters.

Shrabani said: “She stopped short of discussing sexual positions, but she was discussing why his wife was not conceiving, and advising him on what day of the month she should be careful and a whole lot of instructions. She spoke frankly to him.

“When I read the journals I realised how much she loved him.”

The Queen refused to give him up and Abdul withstood the era’s brazen racism to light up the final years of her reign

Soon the Queen gave Abdul the title of “munshi”, or teacher — and in his own diary of the time he noted of the promotion: “It was a day I shall never forget.”

Shrabani discovered Abdul’s long-lost diary of his years in royal service during her research.

It is a treasure trove which also contains his impressions of places such as London Zoo and Madame Tussauds.

He also notes of a trip to Scotland: “Glasgow is a very dirty town but it could not be otherwise as it is purely a business centre.”

Meanwhile, Abdul’s promotion to munshi from mere attendant drew more jealousy from other courtiers.

Rumours circulated that one of Abdul’s close friends was in league with pro-independence Muslims in India and that he was sharing Victoria’s secret papers with them.

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Victoria with husband Albert in 1960

During one trip home to India Abdul was even followed by government spies — who found no evidence of any suspicious behaviour.

Shrabani said: “They tried hard to nail something on him and the staff decide to go on strike and that doesn’t work either.”

Instead, the Queen continued to treat him as a favourite, granting him his own land in Agra, having him accompany her on her European jaunts and seating him at the same table as princes. In 1894 he was elevated to the position of Her Majesty’s Indian Secretary, causing fury.

Writer Shrabani said: “There was disapproval of John Brown, but this one is even worse, The thing is that John Brown was never promoted, he stayed a servant. Yet within a year Abdul Karim is promoted to becoming the munshi — the teacher.

“It was racism, they called them the black brigade. This commoner had a room close to the Queen, he had his own carriage — the lords and ladies couldn’t take it.”

Alamy

A scene from Victoria and Abdul

But the Queen ignored the sniping and did as she pleased — until she tried to knight Abdul in 1897. That was the final straw for her courtiers.

The Queen’s personal physician Sir James Reid wrote to her, saying: “The only charitable explanation that can be given is that Your Majesty is not sane.”

He added: “I have seen the Prince of Wales yesterday and he has said he is quite ready to come forward, because it affects the throne.”

With her eldest son, the future King Edward VII, against her the Queen backed down.

Humble . . . Abdul’s gravestone in Agra

But she remained close to Abdul, and recognising he would not be well treated after her death, the canny queen ensured he was given extra land back in India and a pension.

Shrabani said: “There was a real beating heart there. She was passionate, she was way ahead of time. The fact was she took on her court on racism.”

Once she died in 1901 aged 81, Edward ordered that all Abdul’s treasured letters from the queen be seized and burned.

He was then sent back to India in disgrace, where he died just eight years later aged 46.

Shrabani said: “He was a broken man. He’d had the Queen as his best friend and after her death was treated as a common criminal.”